Another year, another TFNation done and dusted.
Every August thousands of Transformers fans from around the world descend on the Hilton Metropole hotel in Birmingham for the UK’s biggest Transformers convention, TFNation. It’s a weekend full of toys, artwork, voice actors, writers and artists, cosplay, panels, exhibits, and – just for good measure – even more toys.
I’m writing this on Sunday evening, back home safe and slowly readjusting to real life and the demands of being a dog dad. Though I feel weary and spent (in both ways), the overwhelming feeling TFNation 2025 has left me with is joy.
No doubt, it was a great weekend. I met new people, reconnected with old friends, and hung out with the biggest Kettering/Milton Keynes crew we’ve had there since 2019… even if only Garry and I stayed over through Sunday.
But – and here’s the twist – it’s not just the people I know that make the weekend so great. It’s all about being in a massive shared space with fellow fans from all generations.
TFNation is at its best when you’re with friends, hanging out at the bar, playing with your new toys… and every single other table is full of people doing the exact same thing. That’s the real joy of it.
But, all that said… we’re still all Reagan’s children, and we were there primarily to obliterate our wallets!
Planned Purchases…
This year was an unusual one for me. I usually construct an enormous shopping list full of different toys (and sometimes even combinations of toys) alongside the prices that I could get these items for online. It’s a good trick that has kept me on target and under budget many times before.
This time, however? My spreadsheet listed just four target items.
Despite it being available in all good toy stores across the UK (you know the one I mean), my first purchase was something I’d been waiting to pick up from the convention specifically: Age of the Primes Vortex.
I passed on Legacy Menasor (which I slightly regret now) and I am passing on Superion, as my Combiner Wars version with both PE upgrade kits does a more than good enough job already. Bruticus, however, is a combiner that I’m all-in on – which made Vortex a must-buy.
Luckily, he’s a good little toy. After being a little underwhelmed when first getting him out the box, Vortex quickly won me over and became my go-to Transformer for the weekend.
And that’s a distinction worth making, because TFNation 2025 wasn’t all about Transformers…
As the Noob Builds Gundam series shows, I’ve been diving deeper and deeper into the world of Gunpla. I’ve visited the Gundam Mad stall every year I’ve been here, often to look at the HMM Zoids kits that I’m still working my way up to. However I’ve never bought anything from them… until now.
The HG Gquuuuuux hero suit was the most recent addition to my pile of shame, so I got the HG Police Zaku to go with it. I’ve heard great things about pretty much all The Witch From Mercury kits so picked up the HG Gundam Aerial to see what the fuss is about. My other two kits were driven more by pure fandom: HG Gundam Sandrock and HG Maganac, both from Gundam Wing.
So much for my “build one, buy one” policy on buying Gunpla. Time to get a build on!
The final item on my target list that I managed to get was this awesome illustrated poster of RID2001 Optimus Prime (or Car Robots Fire Convoy, if you’re so inclined) by the excellent Ryan Button.
Once I finally get my shelves sorted, this will take pride of place alongside Haslab Omega Prime.
Despite these great purchases, it wasn’t all a success. Like the empty-minded fool I can be, I queued up to say hello to Gav Spence and buy some raffle tickets… only to clean forget to buy this year’s Thunderclash comic. Idiot move on my part!
…And Nice Surprises
With such a small list, it meant that I was going into the dealer hall with eyes wide open.
My biggest single purchase was Mastermind Creations’ Thunder Prominion, their take on Machine Wars Optimus Prime.
I always loved the look of Machine Wars Prime (a toyline and Transformers memory that’s due an article of its own some day) and I love MMC. It was a great price from the Kapow Toys stall and it stands as the most impressive robot I picked up over the weekend – kibble-tastic backpack and all!
There was a fella selling a load of TakaraTomy goodness, including this Choro-Q Rodimus Convoy (TV Version) from 2001.
I had never seen these in the wild before and I bought this on sight!
Running around the outer ring of the dealer hall, “The Forge” was the collective name for the stalls for all the artists and creators.
Seeing all the amazing work on display fired me up to want to create my own Transformers art. As I considered this, I quickly settled on the idea of using Dreamwave’s studio style as a starting point.
No sooner had I processed that thought than I found a stack of DW comics for £1 each – instant inspiration fuel. I love it when the universe works like that.
Last but by no means least, shortly before we left on Sunday Garry gifted me with a set of Dspiae nippers. Apparently these are on a par with his Godhand nippers and will revolutionise my gunpla game – which sounds like a future post of its own!
It was a lovely gift and a great way to cap the weekend.
TFNation 2025 Wrapped
As August rolls around each year it doesn’t matter if I’m super-hyped, indifferent, or – like this year – too busy to get excited. TFNation delivers every single time. Whether you’re there for the social aspect, the toys, the art, the panels, the signings… it’s the whole experience that makes the weekend a true highlight of life as a Transformers fan.
There’s not much left to say except roll out, 2025… and roll on TFNation 2026!
Can’t wait until next August? Check out the TFN Mini-Cons which take place in Reading and Manchester. Find out more at TFNation.com.
